Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and the United Club℠ Infinite Card are both premium airline credit cards offering substantial travel perks and rewards. The United Club Infinite is the better choice if you’re indifferent between United and American Airlines but want a high sign-up bonus, a low annual fee or more miles for dining and travel purchases.

However, the AAdvantage Executive World Elite remains a strong contender for American Airlines loyalists due to its Admirals Club membership, 4X miles on AA purchases and broad accessibility.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who value Admirals Club membership and priority boarding. These cardholders can also take advantage of its travel perks, such as earning 4X miles on American Airlines purchases and the first checked bag free. However, the high annual fee and spending requirement for the introductory offer may not suit those who don't often fly with American Airlines or prefer flexible rewards.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is suitable for frequent United Airlines flyers who value premium travel perks. It offers a United Club membership, two free checked bags and a higher introductory bonus of 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months. However, it may not be for individuals who do not frequently fly with United Airlines or cannot justify the $525 annual fee.

Detailed comparisons of features such as APRs, fees and rewards help you see beyond overall scores. For instance, if you're focused on rewards, AA Executive World Elite offers 4X miles on American Airlines purchases, just like United Club Infinite provides 4X miles on United purchases. But if you want additional rewards for dining, United Club Infinite has a bit of an upper hand.

When comparing the rewards value, the AA Executive World Elite offers a slightly higher value per mile, valued at approximately 1.6 cents, compared to United's 1.4 cents per mile.

However, the United Club Infinite card provides a broader range of bonus categories, including travel and dining, which may offer more flexibility in earning rewards.

The following table details the bonus categories for each card, allowing you to compare their rewards structures.

The AA Executive World Elite card's miles expire if there's no earning or redemption activity within 18 months. Redemption is also primarily for American Airlines flights and partners. In contrast, United Club Infinite miles never expire and offer broader redemption options, including flights, hotel stays and gift cards.

The AA Executive World Elite offers superior perks with its Admirals Club membership travelers and a free first checked bag for up to eight companions. Meanwhile, the United Club Infinite provides two free checked bags for one companion and Premier Access services.

The AA Executive World Elite card offers a range of perks catering to frequent travelers loyal to American Airlines.

Travel Perks

• Admirals Club membership provides access to lounges
• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight companions, saving up to $240 per round trip

Status

• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned
• Up to 20,000 additional Loyalty Points as bonus for reaching certain thresholds

Insurance & Protections

• Travel protection for trip cancellation, interruption protection and more

Credits & Discounts

• Global Entry statement credit up to $100 every four years
• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights

All Other Perks

• Dedicated concierge service for travel, shopping, dining and entertainment

The United Club Infinite Card provides different perks for frequent travelers and those seeking premium travel experiences.

Travel Perks

• Two free checked bags for the primary card member and one companion, potentially saving up to $360 per roundtrip
• United Club membership provides access to lounges worldwide, offering a place to relax and enjoy complimentary amenities
• Premier Access travel services, including priority check-in, security screening and boarding

Status

• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, enhancing hotel stays with potential room upgrades and extended check-out
• Qualifying points for United's Premier status
• Avis President's Club membership, offering car rental upgrades and expedited service

Insurance & Protections

• Comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellations, interruptions and baggage issues
• Auto rental collision damage waiver providing primary coverage for rental cars

Credits & Discounts

• Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees
• 25% back as a statement credit on United in-flight purchases
• Up to $75 in statement credits for IHG purchases annually

All Other Perks

• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for one year

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.